An anonymous art collective placed a 12-foot statue on the National Mall Tuesday morning depicting Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein holding hands. The Secret Handshake created the piece from wood, foam, resin, and wire materials designed to appear bronze. The National Park Service issued a valid permit allowing the installation to remain until Sunday evening. Officials described the work as political expression and free speech demonstration. A plaque at the base celebrated the friendship between the former president and the convicted offender.
Park authorities removed the sculpture Wednesday at 5:30 AM for permit compliance violations. The artwork showed both figures appearing to skip together in a display titled Best Friends Forever. Federal officials provided no specific details about which permit terms were broken. Political protest art has appeared regularly on the National Mall throughout history. The brief installation generated significant public discussion about government regulation of artistic expression on federal property.
Park authorities removed the sculpture Wednesday at 5:30 AM for permit compliance violations. The artwork showed both figures appearing to skip together in a display titled Best Friends Forever. Federal officials provided no specific details about which permit terms were broken. Political protest art has appeared regularly on the National Mall throughout history. The brief installation generated significant public discussion about government regulation of artistic expression on federal property.
